Cocktails · Classic

Tom Collins

Long, cold and unhurried.

A gin sour lengthened with soda, and the template for half the long drinks on any menu. It is forgiving, which is why it has lasted.

You need

Serves one

  • 50ml gin
  • 25ml fresh lemon juice
  • 15ml sugar syrup
  • Soda water to top

Method

  1. Shake the gin, lemon and sugar with ice.
  2. Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice.
  3. Top with soda and stir gently once.
  4. Garnish with a lemon slice.

Our suggestion: replace the sugar syrup with a heather honey syrup — honey and hot water, one to one, cooled. It suits a heather-led Highland gin and takes the edge off the lemon.